Celanese to build 2 coal-to-ethanol plants in China

Texas-based specialty material firm Celanese Corp. plans to build one or two coal-to-ethanol plants with an annual capacity of 400,000 tons each in China, aiming to meet growing demand, the Shanghai Daily reported. The two plants, which will supply ethanol for industrial chemical production, is scheduled to start operations within 30 months after obtaining approval from Chinese regulators. Celanese said each plant may cost up to US$350 million to build. Celanese did not reveal possible locations of the two plants. (November 12, 2010)